COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTIONTraditionally, Old Ales are an English style of dark, rich and sweet ale, typically with flavors of soft currant fruit and blackstrap molasses. While Old Ales typically have IBUs (bitterness) of 30-65, Eel River Brewing put their own spin on the style by adding extra hops to ramp up the IBUs to 80!

A clear red/amber colored beer, with a light beige head. The aroma of fruits, malts, raisins and spices. The taste of some alcohol fruits, spices. A little burny. The aftertaste is bitter, dry with some sweet.

Bottle. Dark amber colour with a small diminishing head. The aroma has notes of caramel, light hops, a nutty side. The flavour is sweet with a good caramel flavour, not a strong finish. Good without being exciting.

A great ale, very unique and complex. Pours a beautiful deep red with a thick tan frothy head. Smells of cherries, vanilla, coffee and nuts. Taste has vanilla upfront, followed by cinnamon and pecans, and brandy. Some carmelized sugar and a bit of fruitiness in the finish. Had in the bottle, unaged.

This was poured into a snifter.
The appearance was a hazy golden burnt orange to caramel brown color with a thin layer of a white head. Once the head died down, there was some light stringy lacing here and there.
The smell had some light burnt raisins along with some caramel malts. There’s a light brown sugar trying to make an effort to flow forth but it mainly stays subdued.
The taste was mainly sweet but had an element of sour sweet candy which was the same aftertaste and finish.
On the palate, this one sat right at a medium on the body with a tad of sessionability about it. The carbonation was subdued but still good for its style.
Overall, I say this was a pretty good old ale.

650ml bottle. Pours a hazy deep chestnut, with a large light beige head, which lasts very well and leaves excellent lacing. There is plenty of plum and raisin old ale character in the aroma, but balanced by a more savoury, nutty note and strong herbal hops. Bitter herbal and pine hops up front give way to treacle and plum in the mid-palate. Nutty, meaty notes come into a savoury finish. This is a very unusual old ale, much more savoury and with way more hops character than I would expect. It is still highly enjoyable, but definitely a little odd.

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